For the third year in a row, we are serving a christian organization that we have financially supported over the years. This time we are in Colorado Springs at Focus on the Family, an organization started by Dr. James Dobson in 1977 and now led by Jim Daly. I raised my kids by the Dobson books: Dare to Disciple, Hide and Seek, and The Strong-Willed Child (and I think they turned out pretty great). Focus remains an awesome resource for parents and is founded on 6 principles:
1. The ultimate purpose of life is to know God through Jesus Christ and beginning with our families, to reach out to the world with love.
2. The institution of marriage is sacred and designed by God.
3. Children are a blessing and are our heritage from God.
4. Human life is sacred.
5. Christians are called on to support the institutions of family, church, and government for the benefit of mankind.
6. God created humans in His image intentionally male and female with unique and complimentary qualities.
So that is where we stand and we are giving them our time in affirmation of that. We have met so many delightful people, guests, staff, and fellow volunteers. Easter week we greeted over 6000 guests to the visitors’ center. We have worked banquets, Steve is working on data entry for a department, and I am doing decor and fresh flower arrangements for the annual Volunteer Banquet (for which we got an invite). Pam and Wally Hasbrouck have given us the run of their house (only 5 minutes away) and that enables us to be here for a full month.
The scenery is so unique — cactus everywhere and unfriendly looking sawtooth mountains. Sand and Indian Trading Posts and Casinos galore! 
Yep, this is our trunk. We, who pride ourselves on packing frugally, have done this to ourselves. Our mantra has always been “two pair of pants, 4 shirts, 2 tank tops and two pairs of shoes period.” BUT because we are greeters at Focus On the Family Visitors Center for a month, we thought we better clean up our act. I think I have 10 blouses alone! 
The best news I can get is a negative, a zero. How did the test go? Nothing there! In this respect, I want to fail these tests. Earlier this week I had a pet-scan where they put radioactive isotopes through me via IV, put me in a dark room, and an hour later processed me thru a large donut that clicks and whirs. Then the cat-scan is where they put holy-mother-of-hot-sauce thru my veins and send me thru again. These chemical cocktails attach and light up any fast growing cells in my body (and my trip to cancer started with this 8 months ago). But they showed NOTHING. I’m smiling, really big! Hallelujah!
It’s all about the blood…
I vividly remember sitting in front of my little blue record player with cowboys all over it playing my 33 1/3 yellow discs and singing this song by Gene Autry. I even had a Gene Autry cowboy hat and holster set. Don’t know why Mom and Dad didn’t give me 
Or rather, make that a germ magnet. When it comes to germs, I haven’t met one my body didn’t like.
It’s official!! Dec. 7th was my half way point of all chemo and radiation treatments. So I take joy in the fact that it’s downhill from here! (Come on, gotta find something to celebrate cause this sucks. Did I say that? )